Don Quixote
Name:
Use your textbook to answer the following questions; the page number and title/section are listed for
each set of questions.
Miguel de Cervantes p.473
1. Miguel de Cervantes was born near ___________, Spain. He was nicknamed “the one-handed
man of Lepanto” because:
2. Cervantes was jailed for debts that had been a result of:
3. Where was he when he came up with the idea for Don Quixote?
4. Describe the character Don Quixote:
5. Even though Cervantes became a famous author, why was he still poor?
Before you Read p.474: Read Literary Focus and Background
6. A literary parody is:
7. Parodies often make the characteristics of someone or something seem ridiculous by transferring
them to a ridiculous subject. To achieve this, parodies use:
8. Cervantes pokes fun at every aspect of _______________________________. Quixote sees
himself as a ____________________, but his armor is ________, his horse is a _________, and
the giants he battles _______________________.
Don Quixote p.476-479
9. Read the italicized portion at the top of page 476, and describe the character of Don Quixote:
10. After being knocked down by the windmill, how does Don Quixote explain the fact that he has not
killed a giant?
11. What natural human needs does Don Quixote ignore? How does Sancho Panza, in contrast, satisfy
those same needs?
12. In his parody, Cervantes uses the techniques of exaggeration, verbal irony, and humorous
imitation. List one example of each technique used in this story.
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Exaggeration:
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Verbal Irony:
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Humorous Imitation:
13. Cervantes directly pokes fun at the medieval romance every time Don Quixote obeys one of the
rules of knighthood, or “ordinances of chivalry,” as he understands them. List three such “rules” that
Don Quixote cites.
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14. Put simply, an idealist, or romantic, views the world as he or she thinks it ought to be; a realist
views the world as it is. Is Don Quixote an idealist or realist? Which role does Sancho Panza fit? Cite
evidence from the text to support your conclusions.
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Idealist/Romantic:
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Realist:
15. A foil is a character who is used as a contrast to another character. In what
ways is Sancho Panza a foil to Don Quixote? Identify the behaviors of the two men
that suggest they are opposites.